Bryan Singer Fired From Queen Biopic Due To Rift With Rami Malek

Renowned Hollywood film director Bryan Singer has just been fired from the upcoming Queen biopic. The reason? the studio behind the project became aware of the escalating clash between the helmer and the movie’s lead actor Rami Malek.

On Monday, Twentieth Century Fox issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter announcing the departure of Singer from the project. “Bryan Singer is no longer the director of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’” the studio said.

Production has been ongoing in London, and Singer was supposed to be hands-on on shooting the scenes for the movie. However, he was missing in action last Friday, Dec. 1, causing the production to shut down that day. Producers at the time only said that filming was stopped because of Singer’s “unexpected unavailability.”

It wasn’t really clear why Singer did not show up to the set of the film, but the studio has been made aware that the director and the lead star of the biopic have been clashing off-cam. The “Mr. Robot” actor has since called out Singer for his “unreliability and unprofessionalism,” as per Us Weekly.

It wasn’t the first time that Singer went missing during production, however, because he has reportedly left the set on more than one occasion. During the times when he went missing, cinematographer Thomas Newton Sigel was asked to step in to shoot some scenes.

It’s not just Malek — playing Queen frontman Freddie Mercury — who has issues with Singer. Tom Hollander, who plays Queen manager Jim Beach, also had a problem with Singer’s behavior that he quit the project before but was persuaded to return and finish the movie.

Prior the firing, Singer already received a warning from both Fox Film chairman and CEO Stacey Snider and voce chairman and president of production Emma Watts that they won’t tolerate any unprofessional behavior on his part. A Directors Guild of America representative was even tasked to monitor the situation on set.

Meanwhile, Singer’s representative has issued a statement to the BBC, explaining the director’s side. “This is a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family. Bryan hopes to get back to work on the film soon after the holidays.”